If you drew a red circle around the first team on USC’s schedule that would test the Trojans, you’ve probably erased it several times.

Stanford was supposed to be the initial barometer until it lost to Northwestern.

Arizona State lost to Texas A&M and needed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Washington starts a true freshman at quarterback. Notre Dame has already lost five starters to injury.

Should USC just fast-forward to the final two games against Oregon and UCLA?

Obviously not, but when will USC initially be challenged? The Trojans are confident, but everyone is just projecting their opinion when Arkansas State and Idaho are the only games to judge the nation’s No. 6-ranked team.

“The first two games, we were trying to define us and who we are,” USC cornerback Adoree Jackson said.

Now it is time for USC to be defined by some real teams. Many discount Stanford (1-1), but that could change if quarterback Kevin Hogan unleashes one of his big performances. Remember how the Cardinal went to the Rose Bowl last year and upset UCLA?

Beware Pac-12 upsets

What probably defined recent USC seasons is not the marquee teams the Trojans defeated but the Pac-12 teams who upset them. Last year, Arizona State stunned USC in the first conference game at the Coliseum. Two years ago, Washington State shocked USC at the Coliseum. No one predicted that loss.

Then there are the other unexpected setbacks, such as when USC went to Tucson in 2012 and lost to Arizona despite Marqise Lee’s Pac-12 record 345 yards receiving.

If this USC team wants to be special, it must avoid losing to teams largely expected to be cannon fodder for the Trojans. Stanford is a double-digit underdog. So were Boston College and Arizona State last season.

But Jackson said USC’s first two games offered a preview of what the Trojans will do against the Cardinal, and with added depth, confidence is high.

“Those guys (Stanford) are going to watch the film from the first two games and see who we really are,” he said. “Those first two games were games we really needed, now we’re ready to go out there and compete.”

What’s the rush?

If USC wants to beat Stanford, it needs to improve in two areas. The pass rush, with only two sacks against uninspired opposition, is currently not at Pac-12 level. Consider this: Ohio University sacked Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan three times. USC failed to sack Linehan, though it did sack his backup once.

Perhaps defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is keeping things simple against lesser opponents to avoid showing Stanford too much on film. But even within the program, there’s been talk about the defensive line’s play the first two games. USC coach Steve Sarkisian said they were just “OK.’’

This is not totally unexpected following the departure of All-American Leonard Williams, but so far the Trojans’ only sack is by reserve defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow.

The secondary looked too loose with coverages against lowly Idaho, which amassed 240 yards passing. Something is also going on after senior Kevon Seymour got demoted for the Idaho game. Five-star freshman Iman Marshall should start in his place this week. A controversy over the move was semi-averted when Seymour tweaked his knee during the game. But is morale affected by benching a veteran? It looks great to recruits when a true freshman starts, but do current freshmen wonder if they too will get benched as seniors?

A leisurely pace

If USC gets tested Saturday, it won’t be from the game’s speed. Stanford employs a pro-style offense, which hardly runs at the frenetic tempo of a typical Pac-12 spread offense. Maybe that explains why Wilcox’s defenses held the Cardinal to a combined one touchdown in two of the past three meetings.

Naturally, Wilcox had none of that this week.

“They still run 49-50 different formations,” he said. “Every year is different. It’s just a different challenge (not facing a spread offense).”

No-win situation

If USC beats Stanford, analysts will say the Cardinal are terrible anyway. Something similar might be said if the Trojans beat Arizona State.

But it beats the alternative. And right now, USC just needs to avoid upsets at all costs.

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